Bullet out for 5 months. We're stuffed

Brett Stewart Sidelined for 5 Months
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
Manly fullback star Brett Stewart will undergo surgery next week on his left knee and will be sidelined for up to five months.

Stewart received the shattering news late last night and coach Des Hasler announced the extent of the injury to the media at the clubÃ¢Â€Â™s training headquarters at the Sydney Academy of Sport at Narrabeen.

Stewart attended a team meeting where his team mates were informed of the extent of his injury sustained in making a try saving tackle on Wests Tigers winger Lote Tuqiri late in Monday nightÃ¢Â€Â™s match at the Sydney Football Stadium.

Ã¢Â€ÂœIt a shattering blow to Brett personally and us as a club but we have to be positive and he is being positive despite his recent run of bad luck.

Ã¢Â€ÂœWe proved we can win matches without him last season and we can do it again. ItÃ¢Â€Â™s not the end of the world by any means but it would be ridiculous not to suggest he wonÃ¢Â€Â™t be missed Ã¢Â€Â“ he is a champion player,Ã¢Â€Â Hasler said.

The injury is identical to the one he sustained on his right knee last season and sidelined him from round five until round 25.

Stewart has told team mates he will be back on the field with them inside five months.

Ã¢Â€ÂœHe has set himself round 20 and it is good he is setting himself goals,Ã¢Â€Â said CEO Graham Lowe.

Ã¢Â€ÂœThe Manly club knows how much of a fighter Brett is and he will be given the best of medical and rehabilitation support to get himself back where he belongs as soon as possible.

Ã¢Â€ÂœHe has been through it before and knows what to expect,Ã¢Â€Â Lowe said.

Brett will find it hard to come back from 2 knee injuries - not good he is better off sitting out the year and coming back next year.

Our only options at fullback

Farrah - Good but prefers centres - did play at 5/8 for the Cowboys
Robbo - Our best and only winger
Hoppa Jnr - Still Young but is raw and talented
Dennis Sandow - never seen him play so no comment
Lyon - but needs the ball in his hands

Or sign a player who is not playing First Grade at the moment. Not sure who is out there maybe Wade McKinnon

what have we got to lose ?
for a long time the club have been spruiking the talents that Wil Hopoate has, so give him his shot if he has a bad few games then revert to plan B, What better game to blood the kid than against Parra, remember we got into 5th spot last yr without Brett

I just saw our season hopes go right down the gurgler. What a pr!ck of a game Monday night has turned out to be, a bad beat followed by this news regarding Bretts knee.

I'm sure we can get someone to fill in adequately for Brett at the back, however the big issue is that 90% of our attacking plays and firepower is centered around him and his speed. Without him the offensive well is dry, can anyone see Des conjuring up a miracle and rejigging our attack ?? I have visions of last year with second man plays to Robbo get snuffed out without any drama because he doesn't have the speed to get outside his man. Teams will be pick us off without a problem if we keep trying to run that play. We need to refocus on our remaining attacking strength, which is Choc and Gifty on the fringe. Our outside backs lack pace so it's going to be up to the forwards to bust the line. Â